May is a month of celebrations at the Hess household. We’ve got Mother’s Day, Nurses Day, and three birthdays, one right after another. True, two of those birthdays are for our pets, but we go all out for them! Both Autumn the cat and Chase the dog get treats and a new toy from the pet store. And

we make a day of it. From landscaping materials to beautiful hanging baskets, she gets our whole yard mapped out that day. Come summer, our yard is a blanket of colorful flowers! And last but not least, there’s Tamara’s birthday. Because she’s two years my senior, I’ve been guilty of teasing her about her age from time to time. She is technically a child of the ’60s, whereas I was born in the ’70s. Still, I try to keep the jokes to a minimum on her actual birthday. In the past, we’ve gone out to dinner in celebration. I’ve even managed to pull off a few surprise parties in the past. But in recent years, we’ve settled on an even more fun family tradition. On her birthday weekend, we make the drive to Cedar Point, Ohio — her favorite amusement park. She and I have always loved roller coasters, so of course we’re going to go to “the roller coaster capital of the world.” It helps that the kids are a “fun” age now, where they can go on the rides along with us! So that’s how our month looks. It’s a whirlwind of celebrations and activities! Honestly, we couldn’t pack enough appreciation for Tamara into a month if we tried. She was an incredible nurse, and she’s an amazing wife. I could not ask for a better mother to our children. She gave up the career she loved to raise them, and she did so with grace, love, and understanding. Whatever our children’s needs, she bent over backward to give it to them. Tamara, thank you for taking this amazing roller coaster ride of a life with me. This month is for you. – George Hess

yes, we sing “Happy Birthday” to them! The rest of the month’s festivities are for my wife, Tamara.

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First comes National Nurses Day. Tamara became a registered nurse back in 1991, and she went on to work in critical and cardiac care. Not only did she thrive in such a technical, high-pressure environment, she genuinely loved her work. But when our first child was born, tough choices had to be made. Ultimately, Tamara decided it was best to take on the mantle of mother as a full-time job. While she has not worked as a nurse in any official capacity for over a decade, any time someone gets sick around the house, she’s the care expert. In recognition of her years of service as a medical professional, and for all the runny noses and sore throats she’s treated in the years since, the kids and I always get her a card on May 6. Next on the calendar is Mother’s Day. In addition to taking Tamara out somewhere to eat, we also like to indulge her passion for gardening. May is the perfect time for her to pick out supplies anyway, so